The UK's Legal Aid Agency has become the latest victim of a significant cyberattack, leading to the shutdown of its online services. The breach, which was first detected on April 23, was found to be more extensive than initially thought by last Friday. Personal information, including criminal records, national insurance numbers, and payment details of both lawyers and clients, has been compromised.

Jane Harbottle, chief executive of Legal Aid, expressed her shock and regret over the incident, emphasizing the necessity of taking radical action to protect the service and its users. The decision to take the online service offline was made as a precautionary measure to prevent further unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Hackers have reportedly claimed access to 2.1 million pieces of data, a figure that the UK government has not yet confirmed. The breach has exposed a significant amount of personal data spanning 15 years, including addresses, birth dates, criminal history, employment status, and financial information of individuals seeking legal assistance.

The National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre are currently working with the Legal Aid Agency to investigate the breach and mitigate its effects. The agency plays a crucial role in providing legal assistance to those unable to afford it, making the breach a matter of significant concern for privacy and security advocates.

The ongoing trial involving the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Arik Air has taken a dramatic turn as Muhammed Abbas Jega, a former Executive Director of Credits at AMCON, contradicted his earlier testimony regarding the performance of Arik Air's loan. Initially, Jega had stated that the loan was performing, but during cross-examination, he admitted that the loan had been non-performing since its inception, shedding light on the complexities of the case.

Jega's revelation came during the trial of former AMCON MD/CEO Ahmed Kuru and others, who are facing charges related to the alleged mismanagement of N76 billion and $31.5 million. The case, which has drawn significant attention, highlights the challenges faced by AMCON in managing non-performing loans acquired from Nigerian banks under the Eligible Bank Asset (EBA) programme.

Further complicating the matter, Jega disclosed that despite AMCON's injection of N85 billion to purchase Arik's debt from Union Bank and Bank PHB, and an additional N11 billion extended as working capital, Arik Air failed to meet its financial obligations. This admission raises questions about the due diligence processes at AMCON and the viability of the airline's financial restructuring efforts.

The trial also took an unexpected turn when Jega questioned the authenticity of the Loan Purchase Agreement presented in court, pointing out discrepancies in signatures and document structure. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the case, as it challenges the integrity of the documents underpinning the financial transactions between AMCON and Arik Air. The court's decision on these matters could have far-reaching implications for corporate governance and financial accountability in Nigeria's banking and aviation sectors.